This Day in History

TODAY IN FLYERS HISTORY: May 30

Flyers Make Blockbuster Three-Way Trade with Oilers and Kings: May 30, 1991

Looking to re-shape the roster and bolster the blueline, Flyers general manager Russ Farwell completed a blockbuster three-way trade with the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings on May 30, 1991.

On the front end of the deal, the Flyers traded power forward Scott Mellanby, enforcer Craig Berube and young left winger Craig Fisher to the Oilers. In return, the Flyers obtained the NHL rights to Hall of Fame right winger Jari Kurri, received hard-shooting defenseman Corey Foster and reacquired tough guy right winger Dave Brown.

Kurri, who had played in Switzerland during the 1990-91 season, wanted to come back to the NHL specifically to be reunited with his longtime Oilers linemate, Wayne Gretzky. This was the key to the back end of the trade.

Duchense won the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers top defenseman in 1991-92 while posting 18 goals and 56 points. He was on the move again the next summer, however, as his inclusion was an important part of the Flyers assembling the trade package that brought Eric Lindros' rights from the Quebec Nordiques. Duchense later had a second stint with the Flyers as a late-season rental in 1998-99.

May 30 in Flyers History

1985: The host Edmonton Oilers close out what had been a very competitive Stanley Cup Final series through the first four games with an 8-3 blowout win in Game Five. The injury-riddled Flyers grew frustrated and the game later turned into a parade to the penalty box. Playing in the absence of injured Vezina Trophy winner Pelle Lindbergh, Bob Froese had a tough night in net as he was under siege from the stacked Oilers' attack.

May 30: Flyers Birthday

Selected by the Flyers with the first overall pick of the 2012 NHL Draft, Scott Laughton was born May 30, 1994.